Crawl space storage system

ABSTRACT

A crawl space storage and retrieval system is provided which allows a user to maximize the storing of items in a crawl space area and to retrieve stored items therefrom without entering the crawl space area. The storage and retrieval system includes a central hub assembly, a support assembly, and a plurality of edge rail sections. The central hub assembly is formed of a ball-bearing frame assembly disposed between a lower base member and an upper base member. A cover plate is disposed on top of the upper base member. The support assembly is formed of a plurality of platform sections in which each platform section is interconnected to other platform sections and to the upper base member. Each of the plurality of removable edge rail sections is interconnected to a corresponding one of the plurality of platform sections.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part application of provisionalapplication Ser. No. 60/809,559 filed on May 31, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to rotatable storage structures forstoring and retrieving stored items, and more particularly, the presentinvention relates to an improved crawl space storage system whichincludes a substantially circular interlocking platform that is capableof 360 degree rotation through the use of a ball-bearing center hubassembly.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Generally, a person such as a homeowner accumulates many possessionsover the course of a lifetime. Often times these possessions are not ofimmediate use, such as in the case of seasonal decorations orsentimental possessions, and require storage in order for the person tofreely enjoy his living space. As time progresses and the homeowneracquires more possessions, storage space comes as a premium. For thatreason, storage space is even more of a premium to the average sizedfamily and it is essential to utilize any storage space to the maximum.

In most instances, maximizing the use of storage space is not the onlygoal. It is also important to store the possessions in a manner in whichthe possessions are easily accessible. As a result, many solutions havebeen attempted to maximize the use of storage spaces with the intent ofconvenient access to those stored items. Because access is also animportant goal when storing items, people often ignore or underutilizestorage space that is difficult to reach. Numerous solutions haveattempted to efficiently make use of cabinet space by implementingrotatable storage devices, such as “lazy susans”, within the cabinet.Other solutions have attempted to utilize storage space by including arail system positioned under the floor level to store specially-sizedcontainers. However, these attempts did not exploit the full use ofcrawl space storage areas in existing homes and in the new homes to bebuilt.

In view of these attempts to maximize storage space, new implementationsin crawl space storage systems have been developed in the prior art forthe home improvement industry. As discussed above, some solutions haveincluded the use of a rail system positioned under the floor level tostore specially sized containers. Although these solutions may haveperformed adequately so as to maximize usage of the crawl space, thesesolutions only slightly increased the amount of usable space and none ofthe solutions considered the objective of creating a system wherebyconvenient access to the stored items eliminated the need to enter thecrawl space areas in the existing homes and in the homes to beconstructed.

Therefore, it should come as no surprise that crawl space storagesystems have been developed and constructed heretofore in the prior artso as maximize the use of storage space areas. In spite of these effortsin the prior art, it would be still desirable to provide an improvedcrawl space storage system that utilizes a crawl space as an effectiveand safe storage area while eliminating the need to actually enter thecrawl space.

A prior art search directed to the subject matter of this application inthe U. S. Patent and Trademark Office revealed the following LettersPatent: 3,290,104 5,244,270 5,479,867 5,601,395 5,813,736 6,202,359

The search also revealed U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos.2005/0028481 published on Feb. 10, 2005 and 2005/0076817 published onApr. 14, 2005, as well as the following Japanese Patent ApplicationPublication Nos.: 03144063 04014563 05033472 10248649 103390292000001980

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,736 to Ballew issued on Sep. 29, 1998, there isdisclosed a cabinet storage device. The device comprises multiplevertical panels mounted upon a rotating platform. The entire device isdesigned to be installed within a cabinet. Thus, any of the verticalpanels may be rotated to the front of the cabinet for access.

In U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,359 to Reed issued on Mar. 20, 2001, an underfloor storage system for a building, such as a house, is disclosed. Thesystem comprises a rail system supporting a train of serially coupledwagons. Both the rail system and wagons are appropriately sized to fitwithin the space below floor level. The serially coupled wagons aremovable along the rail system and allow a user to access any one of thewagon's contents through a floor opening.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,479,867 to Blevins et al. issued on Jan. 2, 1996,there is disclosed a rotary table. The rotary table includes a circularbase and a top plate. Located between the circular base and the topplate is a bearing retainer, which receives a plurality of balls.Because the circular base rests on a stable flat surface, such as afloor, and the top plate rests on the bearing retainer, the top plate isable to rotate in a circular manner due to the bearing retainer.

In U.S. Patent Application No. 2005/0076817 to Boks et al. published onApr. 14, 2005, there is disclosed a lazy susan with a pull-out shelving.The device includes a support base which is rotatably coupled to acentralized support pole, in a manner so that the support base canrotate entirely throughout a 360 degree circle. Wedge-shaped shelves aremounted onto a series of linear slides, which are also rotatable aboutthe centralized support pole. The shelves are permitted to slideradially outward from the support base.

The remaining patents, listed above but not specifically discussed, aredeemed to be only of general interest and show the state of the art instorage and retrieval systems for use in supporting items and forfacilitating access to the items by a user.

None of the prior art discussed above discloses a crawl space storagesystem like that of the present invention which provides a substantiallycircular interlocking platform that is capable of 360 degree rotationthrough the use of a ball-bearing hub assembly, and which maximizes thestorage area of a crawl space without having to enter the crawl spacewhen accessing the stored items.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to providean improved crawl space storage system which allows a person to utilizea crawl space as an effective and safe storage area, but yet overcomesthe disadvantages of the prior art.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved crawlspace storage system which allows a homeowner to access stored itemswhile eliminating the need to actually enter the crawl space area.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improvedcrawl space storage system which is of a durable construction,affordable in cost, and is relatively easy to be transported, assembledand operated by the average homeowner.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide aimproved storage space system which includes a substantially circularinterlocking platform that is capable of 360 degree rotation through theuse of a ball-bearing hub assembly.

It is yet still another object of the present invention to provide animproved storage space system which has a low profile design andincludes a plurality of extension sections as to produce an expandableplatform.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided acrawl space storage and retrieval system which allows a user to maximizethe storing of items in a crawl space area and to retrieve stored itemstherefrom without entering the crawl space area. The storage andretrieval system includes a central hub assembly, a support assembly,and a plurality of edge rail sections. The central hub assembly isformed of a ball-bearing frame assembly disposed between a lower basemember and an upper base member. A cover plate is disposed on top of theupper base member.

The support assembly is formed of a plurality of platform sections inwhich each platform section is interconnected to other platform sectionsand to the upper base member. Each of the plurality of removable edgerail sections is interconnected to a corresponding one of the pluralityof platform sections.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome more fully apparent from the following detailed description whenread in conjunction with the accompanying drawings with like referencenumerals indicating corresponding parts throughout, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the fully assembled crawl space storagesystem, constructed in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, similar to FIG. 1, of a second embodimentof a fully assembled crawl space storage system with extension members;

FIGS. 2 a and 2 b are partial, exploded perspective views of respectiveFIGS. 1 and 2, showing the interchangeability feature between an edgerail section and an extension member, onto a platform section;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the center hub assembly of FIG. 1 in itscompleted condition, with the cover plate being separated;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the center hub assembly of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view detailing the intricate featuresof the dove-tail snap slot design of the center hub assembly and theplatform sections of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the fully assembled crawl space storagesystem of FIG. 2, showing the casters on the platform sections andextension sections; and

FIG. 7 is a partially exploded perspective view of the interlockingmechanism of the center hub assembly of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

It is to be distinctly understood at the outset that the presentinvention shown in the drawings and described in detail in associationwith a crawl storage space system is not intended to serve as alimitation upon the scope or teachings thereof, but is to be consideredmerely for the purpose of convenience of illustration of one example ofits application. The present invention has numerous applications inother fields of use, such as in attics, sub-basements, aircraft hangers,storage facilities, sheds, garages, and the like, since the inventionpertains to a storage and retrieval system which utilizes storage spaceareas on a more efficient and economical basis.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, wherein like referencecharacters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the severalviews, there is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7 an improved crawl spacestorage system 10 constructed in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, crawl space storage system 10 is defined by a centerhub assembly 12, a support assembly 14 formed of a plurality ofinterlocking platform sections 16, and a plurality of removable edgerail sections 18. Although the support assembly 14 may include anynumber of interlocking platform sections 16, it is preferable that eightsections be provided for the present embodiment as shown in FIG. 1.Therefore, the detailed description that follows will discuss the restof the interconnected parts in accordance with the storage system 10having eight interlocking platform sections 16.

Referring to the exploded view of FIG. 4, the center hub assembly 12includes a lower base member 34, an upper base member 36, a ball-bearingframe assembly 38 and a cover plate 40. The lower base member 34 has asubstantially circular bottom surface 42. A peripheral skirt 44 extendsupwardly from the bottom surface 42 and gradually tapers inwardlytowards the center. Thus, upper portion 46 of the peripheral skirt 44has a diameter that is slightly less than the diameter of the bottomsurface 42. As best seen from FIGS. 4 and 7, a peripheral lip 48projects outwardly along the circumference of the upper portion 46 ofthe peripheral skirt 44. The peripheral skirt 44 includes an inner wall50, which has a peripheral ledge 52 that extends slightly inward.

A cylindrically-shaped divider member 54 also extends upwardly, to aheight just above the peripheral lip 48, from the bottom surface 42 andhas a diameter that is slightly less than the diameter of the peripheralskirt 44. Thus, the cylindrically-shaped divider member 54 creates ahollow inner reservoir 56 and an outer reservoir 58. The inner reservoir56 may be filled with a weighted material such as sand, water or thelike so as to provide for greater stability. The outer reservoir 58 islocated between the inner wall 50 of the peripheral skirt 44 and thecylindrically-shaped divider member 54.

Referring still to FIGS. 4 and 7, the ball-bearing frame assembly 38includes an upper bearing race 60, a lower bearing race 62 and aplurality of ball-bearings 64 located therebetween. The diameter of theupper and lower bearing races 60,62 are dimensioned so that the lowerbearing race 62 will rest upon the peripheral ledge 52 when the centerhub assembly 12 is fully assembled.

The upper base member 36 includes a substantially circular top surface63. A peripheral skirt 66 has an inner wall 68 and an outer wall 70,both of which extend downwardly from the top surface 64 to form asubstantially narrow lip-receiving space 74 and a centralized aperture76, which is sized to appropriately fit around the periphery of thecylindrically-shaped divider member 54. The top surface 64 includes aplurality of (eight) dove-tail slots 72 a-72 h for receivingcorresponding ones of an appropriately configured dove-tail tab 26,which protrudes outwardly from an apex 17 of the interlocking platformsections 16 (described hereinbelow).

As shown in the inset portion A of FIG. 7, a peripheral snap lockingprojection 78 projects inwardly from the outer wall 70 of peripheralskirt 66 of the upper base member 36 and is located within thesubstantially narrow lip-receiving space 74. The peripheral snap lockingprojection 78 is designed to co-mate with the peripheral lip 48 of thelower base member 34. Thus, when the upper base member 36 is placedover, and pressed downwardly onto, the lower base member 34 theball-bearing frame assembly 38 will be entrapped between the two basemembers 34,36 because the snap lock 78 and peripheral lip 48 will besnappingly interlocked together so as to prevent the two base members34,36 from being removed from one another. In this manner, the completedcenter hub assembly 12 is provided as shown in FIG. 3.

As stated before, although the support assembly 14 may include anynumber of interlocking platform sections 16, it is believed that eightsections provide the best mode for the preferred embodiment as shown inFIG. 1. Because each of the eight interlocking platform sections 16 isidentical in configuration and shape, it is sufficient to describe onlyone platform section 16 in great detail in order to appreciate thefeatures of all eight platform sections.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 2 a, 2 b and 5, the interlocking platformsection 16 is of a pie or wedge-shaped configuration and includes anapex 17, an outer side 20, and opposed first and second lateral sides22,24. One dove-tail tab 26 extends outwardly from the apex 17 and threedove-tail slots 28 a-28 c are located along the outer side 20 of theplatform section 16. Three dove-tail slots 30 a-30 c are located alongthe first lateral side 22 of the platform section 16. Along the secondlateral side 24 of the platform section 16, there are provided threedove-tail tabs or snaps 32 a-32 c. The dove-tail slots 30 a-30 c of oneplatform section are designed and contoured to appropriately interlockand receive the corresponding co-mating dove-tail tabs 32 a-32 c ofanother platform section. Further, the dove-tail tab 26 on each apex 17of the platform sections 16 are designed and contoured to beappropriately inserted and interlock with the corresponding ones of thedove-tail slots 72 a-72 h formed on the upper base member 36 of thecenter hub assembly 12.

The removable edge rail section 18 is of a substantially narrowrectangular configuration and has three downwardly projecting dove-tailtabs 80 a-80 c. Similarly, the dove-tail slots 28 a-28 c on the outerside 20 of one platform section are designed and contoured toappropriately interlock and receive the corresponding co-matingdove-tail tabs 80 a-80 c of a removable edge rail section 18. In thisfashion, the platform sections 16 and edge rail sections 18 of thesupport assembly 14 are interconnected together and joined to the centerhub assembly 12 to form the crawl space storage system 10 of the presentinvention, as shown in FIG. 1.

Still referring to FIGS. 2, 2 a, and 2 b, it will be noted that thecrawl space storage system 110 is substantially identical to the storagesystem 10 of FIG. 1, except that the edge rail sections 18 have beenremoved and are replaced with corresponding extension sections 19. Theplurality of extension sections 19 allows for the capability ofexpanding in an easy manner the storage system 10 to accommodate thestoring of additional items.

In particular, each of the extension sections 19 is of a substantiallylarger rectangular configuration than the rail sections 18 and includesan outer side 21, opposed first and second lateral sides 23, 25 and aninner side 27. Three dove-tail tabs 29 a-29 c are located on the innerside 27. A dove-tail slot 31 is located along the first lateral side 23,and a dove-tail tab 33 is located along the second lateral side 25. Thedove-tail slot 31 of one extension section is designed and contoured toappropriately interlock and receive the corresponding co-matingdove-tail tab 33 of another extension section. Further, the dove-tailtabs 29 a-29 c are designed and contoured to be appropriately insertedand interlock with the corresponding ones of the dove-tail slots 28 a-28c formed on the outer side 20 of the platform sections 16, after theedge rail sections 18 have been removed. In this fashion, the platformsections 16 and extension sections 19 are interconnected together andjoined to the center hub assembly 12 to form the crawl space storagesystem 110 of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2.

In FIG. 6, there is shown a bottom view of the fully assembled crawlspace storage system 110 of FIG. 2. Each of the platform sections 16 areprovided with a pair of casters 81 mounted on its bottom surface so asto facilitate rotational movement. Further, the casters 81 are adaptedto ride in a circular track 85 (only shown for one platform section)which allows for a smooth rotation movement and adds stability. This isespecially true when the crawl space is a dirt or gravel floor.Similarly, each of the extension sections 19 are provided with a pair ofcasters 83 mounted on its bottom surface so as to facilitate rotationalmovement. Likewise, the casters 83 are adapted to ride in a secondcircular track 87 (only shown for one extension section) which allowsfor a smooth rotation movement and adds stability.

It is anticipated that the major components in the center hub assembly,the wedge-shaped platform sections, the edge rail sections, andextension sections may each be manufactured by injection molding from ahigh-impact polypropylene or similar durable plastic material. However,certain applications may require the use of metal or other materials forone or more of the components, depending upon the loading requirementsof the storage system and its exposure to different temperature andchemical environments.

It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the componentsof crawl space storage system in the present invention may be made ofdifferent sizes and dimensions which can be scaled up or down so as toaccommodate the particular application. For illustration purposes, thesupport assembly formed of the platform sections and edge rail sectionsin FIG. 1 has a diameter of approximately eight feet. The supportassembly formed of the platform sections and the extension section inFIG. 2 is expandable to a diameter of about ten feet.

From the foregoing detailed description, it can thus be seen that thepresent invention provides a crawl space storage and retrieval systemwhich allows a user to maximize the storing of items in a crawl spacearea and to retrieve stored items therefrom without entering the crawlspace area. The storage and retrieval system includes a central hubassembly, a support assembly, and a plurality of removable edge railsections. When the edge rail sections are removed, they can be replacedwith larger extension sections so to as allow for storing of additionalitems.

While there has been illustrated and described what is at presentconsidered to be a preferred embodiment of the present invention, itwill be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes andmodifications may be made, and equivalents may be substituted forelements thereof without departing from the true scope of the invention.In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particularsituation or material to the teachings of the invention withoutdeparting from the central scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended thatthis invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed asthe best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention, but that theinvention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of theappended claims.

1. A crawl space storage and retrieval system which allows a user to maximize the storing of items in a crawl space area and to retrieve stored items therefrom without entering the crawl space area, comprising: a central hub assembly formed of a lower base member, an upper base member, a ball-bearing frame assembly disposed between said lower base member and said upper base member, and a cover plate disposed on said upper base member; a support assembly formed of a plurality of platform sections in which each platform section is interconnected to other platform sections and to said upper base member; and a plurality of removable edge rail sections, each of said edge rail sections being interconnected to a corresponding one of said plurality of platform sections.
 2. A crawl space storage and retrieval system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cover plate, said upper base member, said ball-bearing frame assembly, and said support assembly are rotatable to turn 360 degrees relative to said lower base member which remains stationary during rotation.
 3. A crawl space storage and retrieval system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ball-bearing frame assembly includes an upper bearing race, a lower bearing race, and a plurality of ball-bearings captured between said upper and lower bearing races.
 4. A crawl space storage and retrieval system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lower and upper base members include co-mating interlocking projections which are locked snappingly together so as to form said central hub assembly.
 5. A crawl space storage and retrieval system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of platform sections has a substantially wedge-shaped configuration, with each platform section having an apex, opposed first and second lateral sides, and an outer side.
 6. A crawl space storage and retrieval system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support assembly is formed of a substantially circular-shaped configuration.
 7. A crawl space storage and retrieval system as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of said platform sections includes a plurality of first dove-tail tabs formed on its first lateral side, a plurality of first dove-tail slots formed on its second lateral side, a plurality of second dove-tail slots formed on its outer side, and a second dove-tail tab formed on its apex.
 8. A crawl space storage and retrieval system as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of said platform sections includes a pair of casters disposed on a bottom surface thereof and adapted to ride in a circular track to facilitate rotational movement.
 9. A crawl space storage and retrieval system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lower base member of said hub assembly is filled with a weighted material so as to provide greater stability.
 10. A crawl space storage and retrieval system as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of said edge rail sections includes a plurality of dove-tail tabs for mating with corresponding ones of said second dove-tail slots formed on the outer side of said platform sections.
 11. A crawl space storage and retrieval system which allows a user to maximize the storing of items in a crawl space area and to retrieve stored items therefrom without entering the crawl space area, comprising: a central hub assembly formed of a lower base member, an upper base member, a ball-bearing frame assembly disposed between said lower base member and said upper base member, and a cover plate disposed on said upper base member; a support assembly formed of a plurality of platform sections in which each platform section is interconnected to other platform sections and to said upper base member; and a plurality of extension sections, each of said extensions sections being interconnected to a corresponding one of said plurality of platform sections.
 12. A crawl space storage and retrieval system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said cover plate, said upper base member, said ball-bearing frame assembly, and said support assembly are rotatable to turn 360 degrees relative to said lower base member which remains stationary during rotation.
 13. A crawl space storage and retrieval system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said ball-bearing frame assembly includes an upper bearing race, a lower bearing race, and a plurality of ball-bearings captured between said upper and lower bearing races.
 14. A crawl space storage and retrieval system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said lower and upper base members include co-mating interlocking projections which are locked snappingly together so as to form said central hub assembly.
 15. A crawl space storage and retrieval system as claimed in claim 11, wherein each of said plurality of platform sections has a substantially wedge-shaped configuration, with each platform section having an apex, opposed first and second lateral sides, and an outer side.
 16. A crawl space storage and retrieval system as claimed in claim 15, wherein each of said platform sections includes a plurality of first dove-tail tabs formed on its first lateral side, a plurality of first dove-tail slots formed on its second lateral side, a plurality of second dove-tail slots formed on its outer side, and a second dove-tail slot formed on its apex.
 17. A crawl space storage and retrieval system as claimed in claim 16, wherein each of said platform sections includes a pair of casters disposed on a bottom surface thereof and adapted to ride in a circular track to facilitate rotational movement.
 18. A crawl space storage and retrieval system as claimed in claim 16, wherein each of said extension sections includes a plurality of dove-tail tabs for mating with corresponding ones of said second dove-tail slots formed on the outer side of said platform sections.
 19. A storage and retrieval system, comprising: central hub means including a ball-bearing frame assembly for allowing 360 degrees of rotation; support means formed of a plurality of platform sections in which each platform section is interconnected to other platform sections and to said central hub means; and edge rail section means interconnected to said plurality of platform sections and being removable for allowing expansion of the area of said support means.
 20. A storage and retrieval system as claimed in claim 19, further comprising a plurality of extension sections, with each of said extension sections having dove-tail tabs on its one side for mating with corresponding dove-tail slots formed on said platform sections when said edge rail section means is removed. 